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Ohio State and head coach Urban Meyer could end up in the same new Big Ten division as rival Michigan. (Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith said Monday that there is a "strong likelihood" the Buckeyes will be in the same division as Michigan when the conference realigns its divisions.

Smith told the Big Ten Network it was likely the two rivals could end up in the same division when Rutgers and Maryland join the conference, according to CBS Sports.

For Ohio State and Michigan, being in the same division would raise the stakes of their annual, late-season matchup. It would also take away the possibility of back-to-back showdowns in the regular-season finale and the league championship game.

The most likely current split of the future Big Ten divisions would come in an east-west divide, as the addition of Rutgers and Maryland add an East Coast flair to the league.